At Least 39 Killed in Coordinated Balochistan Attacks
In a series of coordinated assaults overnight, separatist militants from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) have killed at least 39 people in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province. The attacks, which occurred on August 25 and 26, 2024, targeted both civilians and security personnel across multiple districts.
The most severe incident took place in Musakhail district, where 23 people were fatally shot after being forcibly removed from buses and trucks. The attackers, who identified their victims as being from Punjab province, also burned at least 10 vehicles before fleeing the scene. Local authorities report that armed men had blocked an inter-provincial highway, creating a chaotic situation for passengers.
In a separate assault in Qalat district, gunmen attacked a police station and nearby areas, resulting in the deaths of nine individuals, including four police officers. This attack was part of a broader wave of violence that also saw insurgents blow up a railway track in Bolan and attack a police station in Mastung, though these incidents did not result in casualties.
The BLA, which has been engaged in a long-running insurgency seeking independence from the central Pakistani government, had earlier warned residents to avoid highways due to planned attacks on security forces. The group has targeted non-Baloch individuals, particularly from Punjab, in an effort to drive economic and social disruption in the region.
The Pakistani government has condemned the attacks, with President Asif Ali Zardari and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi both denouncing the violence and pledging justice for the perpetrators. Security forces have responded by killing at least 12 insurgents in the past 24 hours.
The ongoing violence highlights the persistent instability in Balochistan, a region plagued by separatist insurgency and frequent clashes between militants and security forces.